20. Youth Film Festival and Four River Film Festival: bananastic film marathon begins!
Youth Film Festival is the central place of Croatian high school filmmaking. It changed its residence for 12 years, and since 2007 it came to stay in Karlovac. Since 2008, as part of the YFF, its international version, Four River Film Festival, has also been organized. Besides the quality of the main programme the festivals have a more than rich accompanying program at different locations - workshops, roundtables, trips and performances by musical bands. The goal is that Karlovac truly lives film, in every sense of the word.
Ksenija Sanković, Marija Ratković Vidaković, Andrea Navijalić
Films in the competition
From 398 films from around the world, the selection committee has chosen 31 Croatian films and 41 foreign films, which enter the competition on the 20th Youth Film Festival and the 8th FRFF. So this year on Four River Film Festival in Karlovac which takes place from June 23 to 27, films from a number of countries are competing, including Cuba, Australia and Brazil. In the domestic competition, most films are coming from Karlovac, Zaprešić and Gunja. The young filmmakers are going to compete in these categories: fiction, animation, documentary, freestyle and in the category of culinary film. In accordance with the fifth category, the banana was selected as this year's visual identity of the Karlovac festivals. The selection committee consists of film critic and political scientist Boško Picula, professor of Croatian language and media culture Ana Đordić and producer Ivan Kelava. According to Boško Picula, what domestic and foreign competition have in common is that young filmmakers want to link their private lives with what bothers the whole world through their films, and most of them are interested in the meaning of existence. Commercial film came to the fore in the Croatian competition and many films have an enviable production level, which has for years adorned great movies, for example, from Denmark, says Picula, adding that the greatest joy is to see different approaches, different themes and different genres. Producer Ivan Kelava says technical perfection of high school films is no longer news because today's high school students grew up with cameras, but it's amazing how young filmmakers think, elaborate and speak the language of film. Professor of Croatian language and media culture Ana Đordić adds that the festivals are an excellent springboard for placement of all high school films, and the value of the festivals is the exchange of knowledge and experience of high school students from around the world.
Marija Ratković Vidaković
Educational program
as part of this year's Youth Film Festival and Four River Film Festival, which are held from 23 to 27 June 2015 in Karlovac, we have prepared 13 educational workshops for all film lovers!
For those who have always known how to analyse films or those who just want to learn, Boško Picula, a film critic and a member of this year's selection committee, will teach us about film reviews. Ana Đordić, professor of the Croatian Language and Media Culture, leads a workshop about the selection of topics in high school films. Luka Hrgović, today a successful filmmaker and former winner of the festival knows all about special effects and wants to transfer his knowledge to young and talented filmmakers. Actresses Amanda Prenkaj and Petra Kurtela will have a workshop on acting in film. This year in the educational program we have a Macedonian duo: Stefan Palitov will hold a workshop about one-minute film, while his colleague Darko Petrovski will hold the one called Photo story. Producer Tina Tišljar, an external associate for the promotion and sale of Croatian Audiovisual Centre will introduce you to the production aspects of high school films.
For mentors and educators Domagoj Rubić from the Croatian Audiovisual Centre will hold a workshop on How to use the financial support of Croatian Audiovisual Centre to work with high school students. Professor Cheryll Hidalgo from Seattle Academy of Art and Science and a member of this year's jury will show us from her long-lasting experience how to work with young filmmakers and on experimental film, while Nikola Janković, sound designer from Belgrade and a former participant of the festival will show you why sound, together with picture is most important means of expression. So, we will bring you principles of recording and processing sound on film. Ivana Štedul, an occupational therapist, will present how film may serve as a therapeutic means.
Along with these workshops, school student Antonio Britvar will this year high hold a workshop on TV reports for children from Karlovac Children's Home "Vladimir Nazor". Ten children will run a TV program about the festival under the expert baton of Antonio who last year proved to be an excellent mentor on his workshop about feature film. In some ways it will be a gift for the children from the children’s home.
Furthermore, the Master of Sculpture Nikola Faller and painter Bojan Kiski, who is actually from Karlovac ,will run a workshop on creating straw sculptures! In this practical workshop, an introduction to the technique of binding, children of kindergarten age, but also pupils and older students will learn how to make small straw presents and will jointly make a big banana sculpture. In the spirit of Midsummer bonfire which overlaps with the first day of the Festivals, at the opening ceremony the straw banana will be ignited!
And, icing on the cake, we are prepare a panel discussion on River Korana with the theme: 'How to become a successful film professional from high school filmmaker?' Film experts who made their first film in primary or secondary schools know the most about this topic. How much is the experience worth and do our well-known directors, screenwriters, directors of photography, producers, actors and editors remember their high school teachers and their first film steps? We'll find out at the panel discussion!
Ksenija Sanković
Yellow Flag Award for the sixth time in a row!
Youth Film Festival and Four River Film Festival in Karlovac have for six consecutive years awarded the Yellow Flag award which is an invitation to all the young film makers in the competition program to contribute to nonviolence through their films. The Yellow Flag will be awarded to authors from Croatia or abroad, who through their topics, stories, protagonists and creative solutions most successfully – and most consistently speak out about violence as a great affliction in society today, especially among young generations. A three-member jury comprised of three talented and successful high school students will decide on a film in this year’s YFF and FRFF competition that makes the best contribution to nonviolence through film. The award is supported in the media by Kokice (Popcorn), a TV program for children and youth, produced by Croatian Radio Television, that has for 13 years been promoting youth and children’s film making from Croatia and abroad, as well as film culture, recent films and classics for young audiences, as well as adult film lovers.
Before the Yellow Flag Award ceremony, the traditional debate on the topic of combating violence in society will take place also this June. This is a discussion between two groups of young people who will demonstrate their different point of views, experiences and thoughts, and by presenting a series of arguments, answer the main question: Should children’s and youth films contain scenes of verbal and physical violence? The exchange of opinions and arguments between young debate participants, as well as contributions of adult participants from public life, will help a three-member jury decide which film among the ones shown deserves the Yellow Flag Award and why. All the participants at YFF and FRFF will be able to observe the debate and Karlovac will this year become the youth film center as well as the center of the struggle against violence.
For the first time in Karlovac interactive lecture Media and violence
For the first time in Karlovac in the program against violence in society an educational and interactive lecture on Media and violence will be held. It will take place before the debate and Yellow flag award ceremony. The lecture will be organized within the activities of the Society for communication and media culture (DKMK) and Project Kids of the Media. The aim of the lecture is to familiarize young people with the important topic in the field of media education - violence in the media. With movies, talks, debates and the award, this year the program in Karlovac will give an important contribution to the fight against violence in the society.
Andrea Navijalić
Grand and Youth Jury
30 young film lovers, selected in collaboration with long-term partners of the festivals from Macedonia, Hungary, Turkey, Italy, Serbia, America and Croatia (i.e. all Karlovac high schools) has a difficult task on Youth Film Festival and Four River Film Festival, or better said, tasks. They decide on 7 prestigious awards: Yellow Flag Award, Best Actor Award, Best Actress Award, Best Screenwriter Award, Best Director Award, Best Camera Award Best Editor Award. After the debate How to become a successful film professional? best Croatian actors, directors, writers, cameramen and editors will give the awards to young film talents. Members of the Grand Jury are Alexandre Juruena, Rada Šešić and Cheryll Hidalgo.
Alexandre Juruena is a Professor of the Animation Workshop of Escola Parque (School): High school and elementary school. He has master in Contemporary Studies of Art- UFF (Federal Fluminense University) and he is a post graduate in “Media Education” - PUC Rio (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro). He has bachelor in design - PUC Rio. He is the director of Anim!Arte - International Student Animation Festival of Brazil.
Rada Šešić was born in Bjelovar, lived in Sarajevo, now lives in Utrecht, The Netherlands. She is a film maker, critic, curator and film lecturer. She is involved in the selection for the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam and a program adviser at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. She takes part in the Jan Vrijman fund and is on the selection committee of the Hubert Bals Fund.
Cheryll Hidalgo is the creator of the Film/Video Production Program at Seattle Academy of Arts & Sciences (SAAS), in Seattle, Washington, USA. An MFA graduate of The School Of The Art Institute in Chicago, Illinois, USA, Cheryll’s thesis film “The Real You, Top To Bottom” has been shown on public television, and in public screenings in Chicago, and is a part of the permanent film collection of The Art Institute and The Roger Ebert Film Center.
Volonteri
The best from children's film kitchen - we cook best film soups!
This program was launched last year and in a way, together with the program "Once winners of the festival, and today?" closes the circle. Specifically, as the Croatian Film Association, together with Youth Film Festival, organizes Children's Film Festival, it turned out to be logical for these two events to unite, at least briefly – because where else did high school filmmakers start their career than on Children's Film Festival? That's why in this programme we will be able to see the first films of authors who are today present at the competition program of the festival, who used to win at Children's Film Festival when they were young yellow filmmakers. This year, it is the turn on filmmakers from Gunja, Zagreb and Zaprešić!
High school kids to high school kids
Four River Film Festival and Youth Film Festival maintain a network of contacts established through the recently launched network of youth filmmaking (Youth Cinema Network), which coordinates cooperation between the festivals and numerous questions relating to their organization, financing and mutual cooperation as well as cooperation with local communities in which they operate. High School kids to High School Program is designed as a presentation of four successful film festivals and programs for high school pupils. This way we reinforce youth film making throughout Europe and the world, the kids are encouraged to pursue a career in film and are given the tools and knowledge to make their film story told at festivals throughout Europe. This year we will present the International Youth Film Festival 'Plasencia Encorto', National Film Festival for Talented Youth, Star Film Fest and ENIMATION little elephant.
Postavljanje plakata
Once laureates of the festival, and today?
The tradition of the programme "Once laureates of the festival, and today?" will be continued this year. Films of former winners of the festival and today experienced professionals will be screened as part of the program. Two film evenings will turn two rivers of Karlovac into natural cinemas - one evening river Mrežnica will shine, and the second river Dobra, one evening Bojan Petković will shine, and the second Marina Juršić.
Bojan Petković is today a musician who is completed his Master's in violin at the Music Academy in Zagreb, and as a high school student won awards at festivals with his animated films! Bojan's film 'What's the hurry" won the third prize for best animated film in 2001 at the 39th Croatian Children's and Youth Film Festival in Čakovec. In Sesvete in 2003, the film 'Wild Toilet' won the first prize for best animated film (from both juries) of the Karlovac Grammar School Film Group and Cinema Club Karlovac at the 41st Croatian Children's and Youth Film Festival. He admits he was a wild child, nothing could calm him down, no punishments, no discipline, no Spartan upbringing, nothing. Only Mozart! Music hypnotized him, and here he is, today, is a master in music.
Marina Jurišić was proclaimed by the media as the new hope of Croatian film when she was only 17 years old. Back then, at the Documentary Rock Film Festival DORF 2009, which was held in Vinkovci, she was the youngest director of the festival. As a young high school student she then presented her film "The boy on the side", a story of a musically talented young man which received a special praise on the 13th Youth Film Festival. This, however, is not the first recognition of the Marina. She won the first prize at the Children’s Film Festival when she was only 15 years old as a student of the eighth grade. After her debut documentary "Sara", Marina filmed two more documentaries and one feature film, which were created under the baton of her mentor Josip Krunjić and his SKIG in Slavonian Gunja. Today Marina is an MA student of Audiovisual production and multimedia projects at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb.
Info about the Evening Programme
Evening Programme: Danko Bananko! - Screening of the animated series Bananaman. Exactly 35 years ago John Geering created an unusual superhero, a schoolboy who saves the world as Bananaman, in this region known as Danko Bananko. During the 60-minute program, we will enjoy in the episodes of Bananaman.
Screening of the Woody Allen's film Bananas - From the comedy factory of Woody Allen arrives American comedy “Bananas” from 1971. The film stars Allen, Louise Lasser and Carlos Montalban, and the screenplay is credited to Allen and Mickey Rose. It is about an American who, after being rejected by a girl, travels to a small Latin American country, and becomes involved in the latest rebellions.
Banananastic stand-up comedy with Marina Orsag and Aleksandar Curać Šarić! – Marina and Aleksandar are the best stand-up comedians that will make you laugh until you cry! Marina's stand up career began more than 10 years ago. She has performed in London, Budapest, Amsterdam, Sofia and Barcelona. Aleksandar, called Aleks, already has five years of experience and about 400 performances all over the country and abroad.
The Macedonian short film evening with the Film Agency of the Republic of Macedonia and Macedonia Giffoni - Macedonian short evening is the continuation of cooperation with the Film Agency of the Republic of Macedonia and Giffoni Macedonia, and it brings you three films: "Bardo" by Marija Apcevska, "Audition material" by Gjorce Stavreski and the movie "The man in the habit of hitting me on the head with an umbrella "directed by Vardan Tozija.
Programme schedule
Tuesday, 23rd June 2015
11.00, City Museum: Children's best film recipes
12.00 – 18.00, in front of Zorin Dom Theatre: Workshop programme for Midsummer bonfires: Let's make a straw banana!
17.00, City Museum: High school kids to high school kids: NFFTY, Plasencia Encorto, Star Film Fest & Enimation
19.00, Šanac: Banananastic picnic + speed-dating
21.00, River Kupa: The Grand Opening
22.00, River Kupa: Midsummer bonfire
23.00, Šanac: music programme within last year's Midsummer bonfire programme: Silente
Wednesday, 24th June 2015
09.30, Zorin dom Theatre: 1st screening of the competition programme on the yellow carpet
11.30, Zorin dom Theatre: 2nd screening of the competition programme on the yellow carpet
15.00, different locations: workshop-theoretical programme for students and mentors
18.00 – 21.30 – swimming and fun on River Mrežnica
21.30, River Mrežnica: Once laureates of the festival, and today?: Q&A with Marina Jurišić
Evening programme: Danko Bananko
Thursday, 25th June 2015
09.30, Theatre Zorin dom: 3rd screening of the competition programme on the yellow carpet
11.30, Theatre Zorin dom: 4th screening of the competition programme on the yellow carpet
15.00, different locations: workshop-theoretical programme for students and mentors
18.00 – 21.30 – swimming and fun on River Dobra
21.30, River Dobra: Once laureates of the festival, and today?: Q&A with Bojan Petković
Evening programme: Bananastic stand up comedy with Marina Orsag
Friday, 26th June 2015
09.30, Zorin dom Theatre: 5th screening of the competition programme on the yellow carpet
11.30, Zorin dom Theatre: 6th screening of the competition programme on the yellow carpet
14.30, Zorin dom Theatre: 7th screening of the competition programme on the yellow carpet
17.00 – 20.30, swimming and fun on River Korana
20.30 – River Korana Forum: How to get from a high school filmmaker to a successful film professional?
21.30, River Korana: The Award Ceremony on the yellow carpet + screening of Woody Allen's movie: Bananas
Saturday, 27th June 2015
10.00, Zorin dom Theatre: interactive lecture: Media and violence
11.30, Zorin dom Theatre: Debate - Should children and youth films contain scenes of verbal and physical violence?
Locations info:
River Kupa – at the bridge in Banija
River Mrežnica – swimming spot “Kod Bosiljevca”
River Dobra – castle Novograd on Dobra
River Korana – sandy beach „at the swans“
See you in Karlovac!
19.06.2015.